Multi-pane window with recoiling workspaces

Abstract

Methods, data processing systems or program products which provide user interfaces including a window having a workspace and a first set of non-overlapping resizeable panes comprising a plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes within the workspace. The non-overlapping resizeable panes occupy substantially the entirety of said workspace. Open or closing pane creates a second set of panes in the window. In the opening case, the second set of panes include the first set of panes and a new pane in non-overlapping relationship without requiring resizing of the new pane or the first set of panes by the user. In the closing case, the second set of panes include the remaining panes of the first set of panes which occupy substantially the entirety of the workspace in non-overlapping relationship without requiring resizing of the new pane or the first set of panes by the user. Selectable contents may also be provided and are contained within at least one of the non-overlapping resizeable panes which includes at least one option icon of user selectable options. Selecting an option icon causes the contents of the non-overlapping resizeable pane to be replaced by contents associated with the selected option icon.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A user interface for a data processing system, the user interface comprising: a window having a workspace;   a plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes within said workspace of said window;   selectable contents contained within at least one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes wherein said selectable contents include at least one option icon of user selectable options and wherein selecting said at least one option icon causes contents of said at least one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes to be replaced by contents associated with said selected option icon and   a view stack associated with said at least one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes the contents of which has been replaced, said view stack comprising a viewable display of one or more view icons, wherein: each of said view icons is associated with a previously replaced contents of said associated non-overlapping resizeable pane;   said viewable display is a visual representation of a stack such that an earlier-replaced content visually appears below a later-replaced content; and   selection of any of said view icons in a path to a top of said stack causes the contents of said associated non-overlapping resizeable pane to be replaced by the previously replaced contents associated with said selected view icon in a single operation.     
     
     
       2. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said window comprises a first window, said user interface further comprising: means for creating a second window having a workspace;   means responsive to user input for selecting one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes; and   means responsive to said means for creating a second window and said means for selecting for placing the contents which correspond to said selected one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes is said second window.   
     
     
       3. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said window comprises a first window, said user interface further comprising: means associated with said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes for selecting one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes;   means associated with said selecting means for dragging said selected one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes to outside said first window; and   means associated with said means for selecting and said means for dragging for creating a second window having a workspace the contents of which correspond to said selected and dragged one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes.   
     
     
       4. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of resizeable panes contain related information and wherein selection of the selectable contents of said at least one of said plurality of resizeable panes causes contents of one other of said plurality of resizeable panes to be revised. 
     
     
       5. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein resizing of one of said plurality of resizeable panes causes resizing of other of said resizeable panes. 
     
     
       6. A computer program product for providing a user interface for a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising:   computer-readable program code means for providing a window having a workspace;   computer-readable program code means for providing a plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes within said workspace of said window;   computer-readable program code means for providing selectable contents contained within at least one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes wherein said selectable contents include at least one option icon of user selectable options and wherein selecting said at least one option icon causes contents of said at least one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes to be replaced by contents associated with said selected option icon; and   computer-readable program code means for providing a view stack associated with one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes the contents of which has been replaced, said view stack comprising a viewable display of one or more view icons, wherein: each of said view icons is associated with a previously replaced contents of said associated non-overlapping resizeable pane;   said viewable display is a visual representation of a stack such that an earlier-replaced content visually appears below a later-replaced content; and   selection of any of said view icons in a path to a top of said stack causes the contents of said associated non-overlapping resizeable pane to be replaced by the previously replaced contents associated with said selected view icon in a single operation.     
     
     
       7. The computer program product according to claim 6, wherein said window comprises a first window, said computer program product further comprising: computer readable program code means for creating a second window having a workspace;   computer readable program code means for selecting one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes; and   computer readable program code means associated with said computer readable program code means for creating a second window and said computer readable program code means for selecting for placing the contents which correspond to said selected one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes in said second window.   
     
     
       8. The computer program product according to claim 6, wherein said window comprises a first window, said computer program product further comprising: computer readable program code means associated with said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes for selecting one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes;   computer readable program code means associated with said computer readable program code means for selecting for dragging said selected one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes to outside said first window; and   computer readable program code means associated with said computer readable program code means for selecting and said computer readable program code means for dragging for creating a second window having a workspace the contents of which correspond to said selected and dragged one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes.   
     
     
       9. The computer program product according to claim 6, wherein resizing of one of said plurality of resizeable panes causes resizing of other of said resizeable panes. 
     
     
       10. The computer program product according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of resizeable panes contain related information and wherein selection of the selectable contents of said at least one of said plurality of resizeable panes causes contents of one other of said plurality of resizeable panes to be revised. 
     
     
       11. A method of providing a user interface for a data processing system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a window having a workspace;   providing a plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes within said workspace of said window;   providing selectable contents contained within at least one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes wherein said selectable contents include at least one option icon of user selectable options and wherein selecting said at least one option icon causes  the! contents of said at least one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes to be replaced by contents associated with said selected option icon; and   providing a view stack associated with one of said non-overlapping resizeable panes the contents of which has been replaced, said view stack comprising a viewable display of one or more view icons, wherein: each of said view icons is associated with a previously replaced contents of said associated non-overlapping resizeable pane;   said viewable display is a visual representation of a stack such that an earlier-replaced content visually appears below a later-replaced content; and   selection of any of said view icons in a path to a top of said stack causes the contents of said associated non-overlapping resizeable pane to be replaced by the previously replaced contents associated with said selected view icon in a single operation.     
     
     
       12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said window comprises a first window, said method further comprising the steps of: creating a second window having a workspace;   selecting one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes; and   placing the contents which correspond to said selected one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes in said second window.   
     
     
       13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said window comprises a first window, said method further comprising the steps of: selecting one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes;   obtaining user input indicating that said selected one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes has been dragged to outside said first window; and   creating a second window having a workspace the contents of which correspond to said selected and dragged one of said plurality of non-overlapping resizeable panes.   
     
     
       14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: obtaining user input to resize of one of said plurality of resizeable panes; then   resizing other of said resizeable panes based on the obtained user input.   
     
     
       15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of resizeable panes contain related information, the method further comprising the steps of: selecting of the selectable contents of said at least one of said plurality of resizeable panes; then   revising the contents of one other of said plurality of resizeable panes based on said selection of the selectable contents.